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Spotlight on Mountain Home

Originally founded as a post office at Rattlesnake Station, a stop on the Overland Stage Line, Mountain Home has significantly expanded since its pioneer days. Despite these changes, the city of Mountain Home makes it a priority to remember the past and honor the early accomplishments of its settlers. The Mountain Home Historical Museum is dedicated to preserving the history of the town and has artifacts that showcase the town’s rich history.      

Efforts focusing on arts and culture in Mountain Home are largely spearheaded by the Mountain Home Arts Council (MHAC), a non-profit organization that has been involved in the community for 33 years. With the exception of a part-time executive director, Sally Cruser, the Mountain Home Arts Council is all staffed by unpaid volunteers who have a passion to promote arts and culture in the community. Although the Mountain Home Arts Council was originally founded as a visual arts council, its role gradually progressed to also include performing and literary arts. Some of MHAC’s accomplishments include presenting art shows, bringing in accomplished musicians to perform in Mountain Home, and organizing coffee house readings of selected local authors.

The community has been supportive of Mountain Home Arts Council’s vision. Summer concerts are completely paid for by businesses and individuals. Additionally, many local businesses donate their services to MHAC “in-kind.” Because the Mountain Home Arts Council is the only organization within 45 miles of the Mountain Home area that promotes and presents varied artistic and cultural events, their staff and volunteers take their mission seriously.

According to MHAC Executive Director, Sally Cruser, “The Arts Council is an extraordinarily valuable resource to the cultural life of Mountain Home. The organization provides a service of value and great entertainment to a lightly populated rural area…Our past board president and arts advocate, Rev. Truman Parker, said it best, ‘Mountain Home might be located in a geographical desert, but it is a cultural oasis.  We are a community where culture and the arts are loved and promoted.’”

Economic Growth and Development

Despite the small size of Mountain Home, the town is a great place for business expansion. Some advantages include a low cost of living, reasonable real estate prices, and low property taxes. Another major element is the presence of the U.S. Air Force Base close to Mountain Home, which acts as a stabilizing economic presence to the city.

Because local companies generally receive steady business from residents of the Air Force Base, it has helped support the local economy through the national recession. According to local business owner Alan Bermensolo, “Because of the base’s presence and the economic impact it has…Mountain Home is recession cushioned. Although it’s cyclical in terms of revenue and profits, it’s not quite as severe for the businesses that are down in Mountain Home.”

Another major factor in Mountain Home is the cultural diversity of its workforce, including a strong presence from the Hispanic and Basque community. Hispanics are Idaho’s largest minority population, and the state’s Basque population is the largest Basque community outside of its home country. These communities add a rich note to Mountain Home’s appeal.

Mountain Home has had success attracting new businesses to its city. One prominent example is Mountain Home’s success in attracting a large corporation, Marathon Cheese, to build a packaging plant in town. Because of its many advantages, Mountain Home was chosen from a list of over a hundred possible sites. Retired Economic Director Ron Swearingen believes that one of Mountain Home’s greatest economic achievements was preparing the town’s infrastructure to successfully support such a large corporation. Because of this preparation and the vision of its local community leaders, Mountain Home is ready for future opportunities to create business and economic growth.

Instructions: Type in your address, city and state like this: 404 S 8th street, Boise, Idaho.

Mountain Home Quick Facts

  • Population: City-11,427; County-26,634
  • Top Employers: U.S. Air Force Base, Mountain Home School District, Wal-Mart 
  • Labor Force: 10,621
  • Economic Development Contact: Paula Riggs, Economic Development Director, 208-587-2173, priggs@mountain-home.us
  • Website: http://www.mountain-home.us/
  • Buildings & Land: http://www.gemstateprospector.com/

U.S. Air Force Base

The Mountain Home Air Force Base, home to the 366th Fighter Wing, makes a strong impact on the city of Mountain Home. According to their 2009 Economic Impact Analysis, the base’s presence has created over 6,000 jobs and has made an impact of over $1 billion dollars in the local community.

The Air Force Base has a strong partnership with the city of Mountain Home. The city has a Military Affairs Committee that keeps in close contact with the base and helps promote positive relationships. Once a year, the city has an Air Force Appreciation Day, which organizes the longest parade in Idaho.           

Mountain Home Air Force Base is a candidate from a list of possible national air force bases being considered to host the F-35 Lightning II, the Air Force’s newest fighter jet. The Air Force will evaluate their list of national military bases being considered to house the F-35 this summer and will make their final decision next year. If the Mountain Home Air Force Base is chosen to host the F-35, it would significantly increase the economic vitality of Idaho.

Although there are many aspects that will influence the Air Force’s decision, community support is an important factor.

Trace Giles, Chief of Mountain Home Air Force Base Public Affairs, expressed the need for community members to show their support: “Members of the military can’t actively go out and lobby and advocate on behalf of the F-35, but the community of course can…It would be a huge asset to the state, the economy, to the community. It makes perfect sense to bring it here.” 

US Ecology

Founded in 1952, US Ecology is the oldest hazardous and radioactive materials management company in the United States. US Ecology Idaho (USEI) chose to build a facility in Grand View, within 40 miles outside Mountain Home, because of the advantages of Idaho’s geography. 

Because the facility is located in the Owyhee Desert, the arid climate and thick layers of impermeable clays and sediments are factors that help ensure safe disposal of hazardous wastes. Other advantages to operating in Idaho include being able to draw upon the state’s workforce. Human Resource Manager Elizabeth Schwager asserted, “Idaho people are hard workers—they were raised as farmers, ranchers, industrial site workers, they’re very used to working hard…I think that Idaho just breeds good workers!”

USEI takes strong precautions to ensure the safety of the environment and their workers. Their Grand View facility utilizes an advanced multi-layer landfill liner system equipped with a leachate drainage system that is set up for regular   water collection and testing.  Workers have “stop-work-authority,” meaning that if a worker is concerned about a possible health or safety issue, they may conduct an order to stop work immediately. There is also an environmental compliance that is regularly audited by Idaho’s Department of Environmental Quality. Because of USEI’s commitment to health and safety, their Grand View facility was named an OSHA Voluntary Protection Program (VPP) “Star” site, a prestigious national honor. 

US Ecology has greatly benefited Idaho’s economy. In 2009, US Ecology added approximately $60 million to Idaho’s economy and purchased around 90% of capital goods from Idaho companies. US Ecology’s success in the Owyhee Desert symbolizes Idaho’s ability to create prosperity despite any circumstances.